Ratings: ABC Makes a Splash; Smash Dips

Splash made a huge, uh, splash Tuesday.ABC's diving competition series premiered to 8.8 million viewers and a 2.6 in the adults 18-to-49 demographic, making it the network's biggest unscripted series debut in more than two years and the highest-rated reality ...

By TV Guide

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By TV Guide

Posted Mar. 20, 2013 at 1:08 PM
Updated Mar 20, 2013 at 8:12 PM

By TV Guide

Posted Mar. 20, 2013 at 1:08 PM
Updated Mar 20, 2013 at 8:12 PM

Splash made a huge, uh, splash Tuesday.ABC's diving competition series premiered to 8.8 million viewers and a 2.6 in the adults 18-to-49 demographic, making it the network's biggest unscripted series debut in more than two years and the highest-rated reality premiere since The X Factor in 2011. Splash was also up 13 percent from Celebrity Wife Swap's premiere in the timeslot. Lead-outs Dancing with the Stars recap show (9.6 million, 2.1) was up from last spring's version and Body of Proof (8.2 million, 1.5) rose to a season high.Spring preview: Must-see new showsNCIS (19.1 million, 3.1) was the top-rated show of the night, dropping three-tenths from its last new episode. NCIS: Los Angeles (16.6 million, 2.8), which featured the backdoor pilot for the Red spin-off, was flat and Golden Boy (9.3 million, 1.7) rose two-tenths.Returning after nearly a month, New Girl (4.2 million, 2.2) was down a tenth, while The Mindy Project (3.2 million, 1.7) was flat.On NBC, Go On (2.9 million, 1.0), The New Normal (2.1 million, 0.7) and Saturdays-bound Smash (2.6 million, 0.8) all hit all-time lows.8 p.m.CBS:NCIS 19.1 million viewers (3.1 demo rating)ABC: Splash8.8 million (2.6)Fox:Hell's Kitchen 4.8 million (2.0)NBC: Betty White's Off Their Rockers 3.7 million (1.0); Betty White's Off Their Rockers 3.7 million (1.1)CW:The iHeart Radio Album Release with Justin Timberlake 1.1 million (0.4) 9 p.m.CBS: NCIS: Los Angeles 16.6 million (2.8)ABC:Dancing with the Stars 9.6 million (2.1)Fox:New Girl 4.2 million (2.2); The Mindy Project 3.2 million (1.7)NBC: Go On 2.9 million (1.0); The New Normal 2.1 million (0.7)CW:Beauty and the Beast (R) 530,000 (0.2)10 p.m.CBS:Golden Boy 9.3 million (1.7)ABC:Body of Proof 8.2 million (1.5)NBC:Smash 2.6 million (0.8)